Invited to a Christening

sexymouse

Hi everyone,

Been invited to a Christening of the children of one of my friends. However, I've never been to a Christening before, so not sure what the protocol is for anything.

What do people wear? Do you bring cards (are these for the parents or the children)? Presents?

Any advice?

Thanks in advance.

Yorkie1

I'd wear relatively smart clothes, no need for hats!

You can get Christening cards which you write to the child. Some are more cheesy than others!!!

I don't think there's a particular protocol for presents.

time2deal

I have a feeling that silver gifts are appropriate if you are close to rhe family. Like a silver rattle or bell. john lewis has a range I think.

ellay864

Samuels has some nice OK budget christening stuff. Mostly silver things as another post has mentioned. Also some larger card shops sell things like the Tatty Ted range which can do nice photo frames etc in blue or pink colour themes. I prefer them to the silver stuff and that's where I got my last 2 christening gifts

12sapphire

Sounds like you don't know the family that well and most 'silver' Christening gifts will end up at the back of a drawer before being relegated to the attic. Why not get a gift voucher (£5/£10) for the child ie Early Learning Centre then mum and dad can buy something appropriate.

Enjoy the day!

Tiddlywinks

Smart dress code, take a card and a present.

angelil

Try to get something (if you do get a gift) that is something the child will be able to use their whole life. My sister and I have engraved silver baptism mugs...which, predictably, are on the tops of our wardrobes gathering dust. Some of the available gifts I've seen while browsing for the below are truly hideous!!

If it's a girl then a charm bracelet is nice. Obviously they won't be able to wear it straight away but you can buy a christening charm for it now and then you and others can add other charms to the bracelet at important stages of her life as she gets older. Or a personalised bookmark commemorating the christening?

Boys' gifts are always tricker Not too many christening gifts in general seem to be looking ahead to things the baby might use when they are a grumpy teenager!
A few long shots: how about this
http://www.babygiftgallery.co.uk/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=1&Product_Code=NP1
http://www.babygiftgallery.co.uk/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=1&Product_Code=6303 (you can also get fire engines, diggers etc)
(on a similar theme...although I guess all this is kind of sexist...they might grow up hating football and rugby!) http://www.gettingpersonal.co.uk/personalised-gifts-for-kids/personalised-rugby-ball-money-box.htm

This I think would be a good gift for a boy or a girl:
http://www.gettingpersonal.co.uk/unusual-gifts/my-life-story-for-a-new-baby.htm

You can also get 'kits' that allow you to name a star or a flower etc for a new baby.

I must say I don't envy you!! Christenings are getting rarer and rarer these days and I think christening gifts are probably the most difficult thing to buy.

lika_86

If you bought a gift when the baby was born then you shouldn't feel obliged to buy another gift. Unless the parents are properly religious then most christenings seem a bit pointless and just something that parents do. I was christened and wasn't brought up Christian and now class myself as an atheist, bit pointless really (I think my mum believes in god and stuff but I don't think she'd class herself as religious). Christenings should be about the symbolism, not gifts.

Get a card, don't bother with a present. If you feel a need to buy a present though, how about a lovely illustrated book of stories or something for when the baby is a bit older (assuming it's a baby)?

CL

When my LO was Christened people gave a money box with LO's name on it, a keepsake box with her name on it, a beautiful cashmere blanket from a craft shop, clothes, children's books and close family gave cheques for her savings account.

meer53

I'd second the book idea too. Something for when the child is older. Both my kids love the Jolly Postman books, they're not expensive and they're the most read books we had. Silver gifts end up going to the boot sale !

jane130

when my son was christened my favorite gift was a children's bible - he is now 8 and reads the stories in it regularly .